The Value of Astrology

First steps in Astrology, by Liz Greene

Some people today think that astrology is
only superstition, and that the ancient astrologers lived in a primitive
and ignorant age. These people forget that their ancestors of long ago
were clever enough to build the
pyramids of Egypt which have stood for over four thousand years, and Stonehenge,
which archaeologists now believe was a wonderfully accurate kind of clock
based on the movements of the Sun, Moon and stars.

Sir Isaac Newton, one of the greatest scientists
of all time, did not scorn astrology. He practised it himself, and when
one of his friends asked him why be believed in such "rubbish", he replied,
"Sir, I have studied the matter. You have not!" More recently the famous
Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung became very interested in astrology and wrote
about it in his books. And some modern scientists certainly do not laugh
at astrology. They
are using research methods to try and understand why the beliefs of astrology
seem to be true. They are discovering exciting things about the different
kinds of energy that each planet emits, and are beginning to realise that
the Moon really does have a powerful effect upon living things. Their
researches may one day help to explain why astrology works.

Meanwhile, more and more people are beginning
to realise that a knowledge of astrology can be a very useful thing. We
have already said that a knowledge of it can help us to understand ourselves
and others better. In countries like India astrology has been used for
thousands of years to help people choose the right marriage partner, and
to select the best time of year to get married. Today psychologists may
study a patient's horoscope to seek a better insight into that person's
character, and some companies are beginning to use astrology to help them
select the right people for the right jobs, because a horoscope can help
to show what things a person is good at doing.

One important thing to remember in the study
of astrology is that no sign of
the Zodiac is better or worse than any other sign. It is as good to be
a Leo as it is to be a Scorpio, and Virgos have just as many special qualities
as Capricorns or Geminis. Every sign indicates special gifts and abilities,
though no two people can ever have exactly the same qualities and personalities
because all sorts of other facts about the position of the Moon and the
planets also have to be taken into account in every case.

Where can you learn more about astrology?
Some American universities now teach astrology as a serious subject, and
all over the world people can take a postal course even if they cannot
attend lectures or classes. There are also many more books you can read
about astrology. Some of these have been written by a Frenchman named
Michel Gauquelin, who produced some fascinating statistics to prove how
accurate astrology can be in assessing people's personalities and abilities.
His books, as well as many others, have made many people take a new and
serious look at astrology, and they are available in libraries and bookshops.
Just have a look at them! And do not worry if some people tell you that
astrology is silly. They probably know nothing about it. In the world
today we know a great deal about how to make things like motor cars, refrigerators
and television sets, but tend to ignore the great mysteries of life and
death. People are becoming aware of this, and taking a fresh interest
in many ancient teachings, including astrology.

There is another way of looking at astrology.
The ancient astrologers believed that the entire universe was really one
great living being, which they called God. They believed that every part
of this universe was connected with every other
part, so that although sometimes people feel they are alone, they really
are not. They are part of this one great living being, regardless of whether
it is called God, Jesus, Allah, Krishna, Buddha, Mithras, or any other
name. Ancient astrologers believed also that this great being was growing
and becoming more and more perfect, and that every living thing within
the universe was also growing and becoming more perfect. They believed
there is an eternal spark of life within each person that does not die
when the body dies. It continues to live, and returns in many different
bodies, life after life, each time becoming wiser and more beautiful and
more perfect.

It may be that astrology has something to
offer us today because it concerns itself with human values more than
most other sciences. It can help us to understand that our lives have
purpose. It may be that there is some truth in the ancient beliefs, and
that we and the planets are all part of one unified cosmos. Knowing a
little about astrology can help to open your eyes to many things, and
the most important of them all is who you really are, deep down inside.
And maybe that is what life is really about.

Looking at Astrology

This introduction into the basic ideas of astrology is taken from the
children's book "Looking at Astrology" by Liz
Greene. It was published by Coventure in 1977. Although once written
for children, the text is very interesting for everyone who wants to
take first steps in astrology.

As one of the largest astrology portals WWW.ASTRO.COM offers a lot of free features on the subject. With high-quality horoscope interpretations by the world's leading astrologers Liz Greene, Robert Hand and other authors, many free horoscopes and extensive information on astrology for beginners and professionals, www.astro.com is the first address for astrology on the web.